In order to help you decide what optic best suits your needs, POLICE Magazine spoke with some experts on the tactical operation of firearms optics. And the following are 12 things they said you need to know about these essential accessories.

This year POLICE featured hundreds of products in our coverage of law enforcement technologies, tools, weapons, and apparel. We have determined these 20 products to be the most popular covered in the magazine during 2015.

With its long-anticipated and recently released Micro T-2 red-dot optic, Aimpoint has taken a proven winner and made it even better by adding flip-up lens caps, increased protection for the windage and elevation turrets, and a new lens coating to enhance clarity.

With its Micro T-2, Aimpoint has taken a proven winner and made it even better by adding flip-up lens caps, increased protection for the windage and elevation turrets, and a new lens coating to enhance clarity.

Last month, we gave you a look at some of the items from SHOT that immediately caught our attention. This month, we're going to open up the briefcase, and the boxes, load the CDs and the jump drives, and give you our Best of Show report.

Aimpoint will introduce its 2 MOA Micro T-1 and Micro H-1 sights at SHOT Shot 2012. The sights, which are available now, are the latest additions to the company's micro red-dot line that already includes the the 4 MOA Micro T-1 and Micro H-1.

Today, rifle optics that once were only seen on SWAT weapons are now commonplace on patrol rifles. A lot has changed in less than 10 years. Which begs the question, What innovations are likely to change law enforcement CQB optics between now and 2021?

Aimpoint and the Telluric Group will offer a CloseCombat Optic (CCO) training course to law enforcement agencies to teach users how to maximize the effectiveness of their weapon systems when combined with Aimpoint optics.

Aimpoint has received a 2011 Editor's Choice award from "On Target" magazine for its Patrol Rifle Optic (PRO) red-dot sight due to the product's ability to fulfill tactical performance demands while remaining within the reach of law enforcement agencies facing restrictive budgets.

I have been using Streamlight flashlights since I went to my first SHOT Show many years ago. I have always found them to be durable, bright, and affordably priced. The TL-2 X is another great addition to the company's family of tactical lights.

For officers looking for fast deployment of the patrol rifle in an emergency, the optic arrives with a transparent flip-up rear lens cover that allows the operator to use the optic with both eyes open and both covers closed.

This year, the law enforcement section of the show wound through both floors of the Sands Expo Center and into numerous ballrooms in the Venetian Hotel. Exhibitors along the law enforcement aisles were showing everything from machine guns to mannequins, ranging in size from vehicles to lights the size of a stick of Dentyne gum.

The sight's front and rear lenses are recessed within the body and flip covers further protect the lenses. A transparent rear lens cover is utilized that allows the user to engage a target with lens covers closed in emergency situations.

The first and foremost reason people use any form of mounted optics is they provide a fast, accurate sight. Second, be they red dot or truly telescopic, sights have shrunk in size, making them better suited for duty.

While the U.S. military has largely transitioned en masse to using optics on issued M4 carbines and other weapons, many American law enforcement agencies continue to use patrol rifles and carbines with iron sights and no optics. So the question is valid: Do you really need combat optics on your patrol rifle?

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